Pokémon 151 Price Spike: Top 10 Cards Up 50–85% This Week
Pokémon 151 is in the middle of a price spike, and it's across the board. Every card in the set's top 10 is up at least 52% in the last seven days. That's not a coincidence, and it may not be over yet.
Browse all Pokémon 151 cards on Rare Candy. Prices updated daily.
What's Behind the Pokémon 151 Price Spike
These numbers don't happen by accident. Two things happened at roughly the same time, and a supply problem made sure collectors felt both of them.
Pokémon Day Just Happened
February 27, 2026 marked the 30th anniversary of the Pokémon franchise. Across social media, YouTube, and the collector scene, the week around Pokémon Day sent a wave of attention back onto the original 151. For collectors who'd been sleeping on the set, it was a wake-up call. For everyone already watching it, it confirmed what they'd been expecting.
An October Anniversary Set Is Coming
The 30th anniversary TCG set is expected to land around October 2026, and if history is any guide, it will heavily feature the original 151 Pokémon. Collectors who remember what happened to Generations cards ahead of Celebrations are running the same playbook right now, buying the Celebrations and other nostalgic sets before a new wave of attention pushes prices higher. That's likely doing most of the work here.
151 Is Out of Print
Pokémon 151 released in 2023 and has not had any new reprinted product in some time now. No new anticipated product is coming to market. When demand spikes on a fixed supply, prices move fast, and that's exactly what the last seven days looked like.
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The 10 Most Expensive Pokémon 151 Cards Right Now
Every card on this list gained at least 52% in the last seven days. Prices are as of March 9, 2026.
1. Charizard ex 199/165 — $495.13 (+58.86% this week)
Set: Pokémon 151
Card Number: 199/165
Rarity: Special Illustration Rare
The whole card is Charizard mid-flight, soaring over an erupting volcano with pink and orange clouds filling the sky behind it. Illustrated by miki kudo, who painted the entire Charmander line for this set, giving all three cards a visual continuity that collectors have been clamoring over since launch. At nearly $500 raw, this is the undisputed centerpiece of the 151 set. Could we see it cross the $500 mark soon?
2. Blastoise ex 200/165 — $222.20 (+71.99% this week)
Set: Pokémon 151
Card Number: 200/165
Rarity: Special Illustration Rare
Blastoise is fully submerged, surrounded by deep blue water with its cannons primed as bubbles seem to float from below. Illustrated by Mitsuhiro Arita, along with the entire evolution line, the card carries particular weight for longtime collectors who grew up with his work. Up nearly 72% in a week, it's the second-biggest mover among the SIRs, and the Arita connection is likely no small part of that.
3. Venusaur ex 198/165 — $159.63 (+57.01% this week)
Set: Pokémon 151
Card Number: 198/165
Rarity: Special Illustration Rare
Venusaur sits front and center in an array of tropical color, pinks, greens, and reds, with flowers and plants covering the whole card in every direction. Illustrated by Yoriyuki Ikegami, who also painted the Bulbasaur, and Venusaur IRs in this set, the Grass-type starter line has a visual identity all its own in 151. At $159.63 and up 57% on the week, it's the most accessible of the three starter SIRs at this point in time.
4. Charmander 168/165 — $144.84 (+74.28% this week)
Set: Pokémon 151
Card Number: 168/165
Rarity: Illustration Rare
A small Charmander sits alone on a rocky ledge deep in a canyon, staring up at what one can only assume is the rest of the evolution line. No action, no drama, just a single Pokémon in a lonely landscape. The card has the quiet kind of beauty that tends to hold value. Also illustrated by miki kudo, it posted a 74.28% gain this week. This card recently jumped over the Zapdos ex SIR showing that starters are really in-demand right now.
5. Zapdos ex 202/165 — $142.77 (+58.70% this week)
Set: Pokémon 151
Card Number: 202/165
Rarity: Special Illustration Rare
All three legendary birds appear together on this card, with Zapdos up front against a bright blue sky crackled with lightning, Moltres burning in the background and Articuno gliding below. Illustrated by Shiburingaru, it's the only card in the top 10 featuring more than one Pokémon, and the only non-starter in the top five. Up 58.70% this week, it's a reminder that not everything moving in this set has a starter Pokémon's name on it.
6. Squirtle 170/165 — $142.46 (+78.50% this week)
Set: Pokémon 151
Card Number: 170/165
Rarity: Illustration Rare
Squirtle wades in shallow ocean water, waves washing up around its feet on a warm, golden sandy beach. Also, illustrated by Mitsuhiro Arita, whose connection to the Squirtle line goes back to Base Set, the card has the kind of charm that's easy to underestimate right up until it's showing up in every collector's wants list. Up 78.50% in the last seven days, it's the second-biggest gainer in the entire set.
7. Charmeleon 169/165 — $99.62 (+85.24% this week)
Set: Pokémon 151
Card Number: 169/165
Rarity: Illustration Rare
Charmeleon stands in-between the other two members of its evolution line on a rocky ledge looking down at the Charmander below, even though Charmander sits higher in value. Also illustrated by miki kudo, it posted the single biggest percentage gain of any card in the top 10 at +85.24%. A Stage 1 mid-evolution holding the hottest number in the set is a rare thing to see, and it tells you exactly how strong the pull toward the Charmander line is right now.
8. Bulbasaur 166/165 — $98.82 (+63.93% this week)
Set: Pokémon 151
Card Number: 166/165
Rarity: Illustration Rare
Bulbasaur is almost completely hidden in an overgrown garden scene, surrounded by lush green leaves and plants in every direction. Its eyes are about the only thing that gives it away, even though they're closed. It has the same quiet energy as the Venusaur ex SIR. Still under $100 and up 63.93% this week, it's the only starter in the top 10 to not quite crack the $100 mark.
9. Alakazam ex 201/165 — $93.72 (+58.18% this week)
Set: Pokémon 151
Card Number: 201/165
Rarity: Special Illustration Rare
Alakazam stands in a cluttered room packed with books, bottles, clocks, and curious objects filling the shelves on all sides, levitating spoons in the middle of what looks like some sort of serious experiment. This card leans into everything Alakazam collectors, like myself associate with Alakazam's reputation as the franchise's tentpole psychic. Still under $100 raw and up 58.18% this week, it's the underdog of the 151 SIR lineup that hasn't fully had its moment yet.
10. Pikachu 173/165 — $86.02 (+52.30% this week)
Set: Pokémon 151
Card Number: 173/165
Rarity: Illustration Rare
Pikachu runs through a busy street festival packed with trainers and Pokémon from across the original 151, Psyduck, Growlithe, Gengar, and others visible throughout the crowd. Illustrated by Hiroyuki Yamamoto, it's the only card in the top 10 that's basically a celebration of the entire set, with dozens of original Pokémon crammed into a single scene. The smallest 7-day gain on the list at +52.30%, but one of the most recognizable pulls in any pack regardless of where prices go.
Why Pokémon 151 Starter Cards Are Leading the Charge
The seven starter line cards in this top 10 averaged roughly 70% gains this week. The three non-starter cards, Zapdos ex, Alakazam ex, and Pikachu, averaged closer to 56%. That gap is the story.
When a 30th anniversary TCG set lands, likely in October, the Pokémon most likely to show up front and center are Charmander, Squirtle, and Bulbasaur. Collectors buying the 151 versions now are securing the originals before a new wave of art and attention lands on those same Pokémon. The Illustration Rares, the basic Pokémon rather than the ex forms, are actually outperforming the SIRs on percentage terms, because the nostalgia behind this spike isn't about rarity. It's about the Pokémon themselves.
The Charmander line is the clearest example. All three evolutionary stages appear in the top 10, Charmander at #4, Charmeleon at #7, Charizard ex at #1, all illustrated by the same artist, miki kudo. A complete evolutionary line, one artist's vision across all three.
If you're looking to build the starter lines specifically, browse all Pokémon 151 starter cards on Rare Candy before the October announcement changes the math.
Will Pokémon 151 Prices Hold?
Pokémon 151 prices should hold through 2026, though gains this sharp in a single week can absolutely pull back. Anyone who's watched a set spike overnight knows not every move sticks. The October anniversary set hasn't been announced yet, and when it is, any confirmation of which Pokémon feature will push the same attention building since Pokémon Day even further.
The Generations parallel is worth keeping in mind. Those cards moved ahead of Celebrations and held most of those gains long after the hype settled. A look at what held value through 2025 tells the same story. Pokémon 151 is out of print and isn't coming back to shelves as far as we know. Between now and any October announcement is probably the window.
Download the Rare Candy App to scan. track, and share your Pokémon TCG collection!
FAQ
Why are Pokémon 151 cards so expensive right now?
Two things happened in close succession. The franchise's 30th anniversary on February 27 reignited collector attention on the original 151 Pokémon. Then collectors started pricing in an expected October anniversary TCG set likely to feature those same Pokémon, driving demand on a set that's already out of print and has no reprint in sight.
Is Pokémon 151 out of print?
Yes. Pokémon 151 released in 2023 and has not been reprinted. No new supply is entering the market, which means demand spikes hit prices harder than they would on a set still in active print runs.
Will Pokémon 151 go up in value before the October anniversary set?
Nobody knows for certain, but the setup favors continued strength. The October anniversary set hasn't been officially revealed yet, and any announcement featuring the original starter Pokémon is likely to put 151 cards back in the spotlight. Similar patterns played out with Generations cards ahead of Celebrations.
What are the most expensive cards in Pokémon 151?
As of March 9, 2026, the most expensive raw NM card in Pokémon 151 is Charizard ex (199/165) at $495.13, followed by Blastoise ex (200/165) at $222.20 and Venusaur ex (198/165) at $159.63. You can browse current prices for all of them on Rare Candy's Pokémon 151 set page.
Are the starter Pokémon cards the best ones to collect from 151?
Based on this week's price movement, the starter lines are leading the set on percentage gains. The Charmander, Squirtle, and Bulbasaur lines averaged around 70% growth in seven days versus roughly 56% for non-starter cards. Whether that holds depends on how the October anniversary set shapes up, but the starter lines have the most direct connection to whatever comes next.
Building this set? Rare Candy carries the full Pokémon 151 lineup — browse every card from the chase hits down to the base commons at rarecandy.com/brands/pokemon/sets/151.
